How far is Fort Scott, KS from Hays, KS?

The driving distance from Fort Scott, KS to Hays, KS is about 337.9 miles (543.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 260.3 miles (418.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
337.88 mi
05h 08m
Flight
260.29 mi
418.89 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Scott.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
260.29 mi
Kilometers
418.89 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
337.88 mi
Kilometers
543.77 km
Drive Time
05h 08m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hays
Thu, Apr 23, 8:02 AM CDT
Return by in Fort Scott
Thu, Apr 23, 1:10 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Scott
2026-04-23T02:54
Arrive Hays
Thu, Apr 23, 8:02 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:08 AM to 1:08 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:44 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Scott
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Newton
KS

City in Kansas

From Fort Scott
158.9 mi
02h 34m
To Hays
178.9 mi
02h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
18 to 25 mph S
Destination
83°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Scott and Hays.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Scott and Hays.

  1. 1

    Start on West 2nd Street

    85 m · 18 sec · West 2nd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South National Avenue

    1 mi · 3 min · South National Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right

    97 m · 19 sec

  4. 4

    Turn left

    38.7 mi · 45 min

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto East Madison Avenue

    1.5 km · 3 min · East Madison Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    83.9 mi · 1 hr 41 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Southwest 20th Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Southwest 20th Street

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    1828 ft · 51 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto KS 196/Northwest 90th Street

    18.9 mi · 22 min · KS 196/Northwest 90th Street

  10. 10

    Continue on KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street

    9.5 mi · 11 min · KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right

    1109 ft · 27 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    5.1 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    63.2 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West: Hays

    1185 ft · 42 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    91.3 mi · 1 hr 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 183, Hays, Stockton

    1010 ft · 25 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto North Vine Street

    79 m · 7 sec · North Vine Street

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 5 sec · North Vine Street

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    944 ft · 21 sec · North Vine Street

  21. 21

    Continue on North Vine Street

    99 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    40 m · 2 sec · North Vine Street

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    1172 ft · 29 sec · North Vine Street

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Vine Street

    104 m · 8 sec · North Vine Street

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto North Vine Street

    2425 ft · 1 min · North Vine Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto East 27th Street

    1218 ft · 30 sec · East 27th Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2212 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  28. 28

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Main Street

    574 ft · 18 sec · Main Street

  29. 29

    Turn right

    89 m · 21 sec

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Scott and Hays.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
30 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
3 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
91.3 mi · 27%
East Madison Avenue
84.8 mi · 25%
KS 196/Southeast 72nd Street
80 mi · 24%
KS 196/Northwest 90th Street
18.9 mi · 6%
Southwest 20th Street
1.17 mi
North Vine Street
1.12 mi
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

91.3 mi · 01h 31m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+77.6 mi
260.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Newton
02h 34m from Fort Scott
Leave By
6:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fort Scott and Mostly Sunny near Hays.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Scott to Hays?

The road trip is about 337.9 miles (543.8 km) and usually takes 05h 08m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Newton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.9 miles from Fort Scott and 178.9 miles from Hays.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 260.3 miles (418.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 77.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.95 one way or $89.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 105.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Fort Scott and Mostly Sunny near Hays.

Stop Ideas Near Newton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Newton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Newton.

RAIL

Newton

414 North Main St.
RAIL

Hutchinson

51 mi away
North Walnut St & East 3rd Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Scott and Hays. Straight-line distance: 260.29 mi (418.89 km).

Fort Scott

#1 Fort Scott

City in Kansas, USA

Population7,648
Coordinates37.8397600, -94.7083000
Altitude258
CountryUnited States
Hays

#2 Hays

City in Kansas, United States

Population20,829
Coordinates38.8791800, -99.3267700
Altitude616
CountryUnited States
Start: West 2nd Street (-94.7083, 37.839847)
End: (-99.32671, 38.879268)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 544 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.92 gal
45.13 L · about $44.95
Round trip
$89.90
23.84 gal · 90.26 L
Estimated CO2
105.9 kg one way
Round trip: 211.9 kg / 467 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.95 $89.90
Mid-grade $4.25 $50.70 $101.39
Premium $4.65 $55.48 $110.95
Diesel $5.30 $63.22 $126.45

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Kansas · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Scott and Hays. The current time is 02:54:10.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.